Electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

There is provided a technology for enabling a user to recognize gradation of a captured image with high accuracy, when the user checks a substitute image displayed in substitution for the captured image. An electronic apparatus divides a captured image into a plurality of partial areas, generates each of histograms for the respective partial areas, the histograms each representing a number of pixels of each gradation, and outputs the generated histogram to an apparatus that displays a substitute image having a data size smaller than a data size of the captured image.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic apparatus thatcan present an output to outside or execute display control of asubstitute image that substitutes for a captured image.

Description of the Related Art

There is an image capturing apparatus that has a wireless communicationfunction in conformity with a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) standard. Thisimage capturing apparatus can wirelessly transmit a captured image whichis recorded in a memory card or built-in memory to an external apparatussuch as a smartphone, and store the transmitted image. In general, a RAWimage has a data size (an information amount) which is relatively largerthan the data size of an image in a general-purpose image format such asJoint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG). Therefore, in a case where animage to be transmitted is a RAW image, the RAW image itself may not betransmitted and a JPEG image substituting for the RAW image may betransmitted. In this case, a reduction in transmission time and batterysaving in an external apparatus can be expected. For example, JapanesePatent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-80049 discusses a technology forconverting the image format of a captured image and transmitting theimage after the conversion.

In general, information about color and color tone captured by an imagesensor (an image capturing element) of an image capturing apparatus isrecorded in a RAW image as much as possible, and the color depth of aJPEG image is lower than the color depth of the RAW image. Therefore, ifthe RAW image is converted into the JPEG image, the color depth may bereduced. As a result, gradation collapse (whiteout or blackout) notpresent in the RAW image can occur in the JPEG image. Even if a user canvisually recognize the JPEG image displayed in substitution for the RAWimage, the user cannot recognize the gradation of the RAW image withhigh accuracy. For example, the user cannot determine whether whiteoutor blackout occurring in the JPEG image is also present in the RAWimage.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is related to a technology for enabling a user torecognize gradation of a captured image with high accuracy when the userchecks a substitute image displayed in substitution for the capturedimage.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, an electronicapparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a histogramfrom a captured image, the histogram having gradation values in apartial area that is an area forming a part of the captured image, andan output unit configured to output the histogram, area informationabout the partial area, and a substitute image that has a data sizesmaller than a data size of the captured image and substitutes for thecaptured image, to outside.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an electronicapparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a histogramfrom a captured image, the histogram having gradation values in apartial area that is an area forming a part of the captured image, and acontrol unit configured to perform control for displaying a substituteimage that has a data size smaller than a data size of the capturedimage and substitutes for the captured image, in such a manner that acorrespondence area of the substitute image and corresponding to thepartial area is distinguishable, wherein the control unit performscontrol for displaying the histogram in a case where the correspondencearea is designated by a user.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, a control methodfor an electronic apparatus includes acquiring a histogram from acaptured image, the histogram having gradation values in a partial areathat is an area forming a part of the captured image, and outputting thehistogram, area information about the partial area, and a substituteimage that has a data size smaller than a data size of the capturedimage and substitutes for the captured image, to outside.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a control methodfor an electronic apparatus includes acquiring a histogram from acaptured image, the histogram having gradation values in a partial areathat is an area forming a part of the captured image, and performingcontrol for displaying a substitute image that has a data size smallerthan a data size of the captured image and substitutes for the capturedimage, in such a manner that a correspondence area of the substituteimage and corresponding to the partial area is distinguishable, whereinthe control is performed to display the histogram in a case where thecorrespondence area is designated by a user.

According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a computerreadable storage medium stores a program that causes a computer tofunction as each of the units in the above-described electronicapparatuses.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of animage capturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of adisplay control apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow inthe image capturing apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow inthe display control apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a substitute JointPhotographic Experts Group (JPEG) image according to the presentexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a RAW histogramaccording to the present exemplary embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the presentdisclosure will be described in detail below with reference to thedrawings.

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedbelow. In the present exemplary embodiment, a Joint Photographic ExpertsGroup (JPEG) image (a substitute image, or a substitute JPEG image) thatsubstitutes for a RAW image (a captured image) can be displayed.Further, a RAW histogram of a partial area that forms a part of the RAWimage can also be displayed. The RAW histogram is a histogram thatrepresents the number of pixels for RAW gradation values (the gradationof the brightness of the RAW image) in the partial area. The user canthereby check not only the substitute JPEG image but also the RAWhistogram. As a result, the user can recognize the gradation of the RAWimage with high accuracy by checking the displayed RAW histogram.Further, the user can determine whether gradation collapse (whiteout orblackout) occurring in the substitute JPEG image is also present in theRAW image by checking the substitute JPEG image and the RAW histogramthat are displayed. The captured image is not limited to the RAW image,and the substitute image is not limited to the JPEG image.

In the present exemplary embodiment, an example of a display controlsystem that has an image capturing apparatus serving as a firstelectronic apparatus, and a display control apparatus serving as asecond electronic apparatus, will be described. The image capturingapparatus may be any type of apparatus if the apparatus can performimage capturing (image sensing). Examples of the image capturingapparatus include a digital camera and various mobile terminals (such asa smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a laptop computer). The displaycontrol apparatus may be any type of apparatus if the apparatus cancontrol display. Examples of the display control apparatus includevarious mobile terminals, a personal computer, various reproductionapparatuses, and a server.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of animage capturing apparatus 100 according to the present exemplaryembodiment. The image capturing apparatus 100 has a control unit 101, afirst storage unit 102, a second storage unit 103, an image capturingunit 104, a storage unit 105, an operation unit 106, a display unit 107,and a communication unit 108.

The control unit 101, which may include one or more processors, one ormore memories, circuitry, or a combination thereof, may control variouskinds of processing performed by the image capturing apparatus 100. Forexample, a central processing unit (CPU) can be used for the controlunit 101. One piece of hardware may be used or a plurality of pieces ofhardware may be used for the control unit 101. The processing by theimage capturing apparatus 100 may be controlled based on the sharedexecution of the processing by the plurality of pieces of hardware.

The first storage unit 102 is a unit that temporarily stores variouskinds of data, and is used for processing by the control unit 101. Forexample, a volatile memory (such as a random access memory (RAM)) can beused for the first storage unit 102.

The second storage unit 103 is a unit that non-temporarily storesvarious kinds of data. The second storage unit 103 stores, for example,various kinds of program (including firmware) to be used by the imagecapturing apparatus 100 (such as the control unit 101), and variouskinds of setting information. For example, a nonvolatile memory (such asa read only memory (ROM)) can be used for the second storage unit 103.

The image capturing unit 104 generates a RAW image (RAW image data) byperforming image capturing. The image capturing unit 104 has a lens, ashutter, an iris diaphragm, and an image capturing element (acomplementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) or a charge-coupleddevice (CCD)).

The storage unit 105 is a unit that non-temporarily stores various kindsof data. The storage unit 105 stores, for example, a RAW image, and aRAW file including the RAW image. For example, a semiconductor memory (amemory card), a magnetic disk (a hard disk), or an optical disc (acompact disc (CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), or a Blu-ray disc)can be used for the storage unit 105. A card-type medium such as amagnetic card, an optical card, or an integrated circuit (IC) card canbe also used for the storage unit 105. The storage unit 105 may be ormay not be detachably attached to the image capturing apparatus 100. Theimage capturing apparatus 100 only needs to have a function of readingdata from and writing data into the storage unit 105 and deleting datastored in the storage unit 105 by accessing the storage unit 105.

The operation unit 106 receives a user operation for the image capturingapparatus 100. The operation unit 106 outputs an operation signal basedon the user operation to the control unit 101. The control unit 101performs processing based on the operation signal. For example, an inputdevice such as a physical button, a pointing device (such as a touchpanel, a touchpad, or a mouse), or a keyboard can be used for theoperation unit 106. The operation unit 106 may be or may not bedetachably attached to the image capturing apparatus 100. The imagecapturing apparatus 100 only needs to have a function of receiving anelectrical signal based on a user operation performed using the inputdevice.

The display unit 107 displays various images. For example, the displayunit 107 displays a RAW image, a substitute JPEG image, and a graphicimage (such as a character and an icon) for an interactive operation.For example, a liquid crystal panel and a backlight module, or anorganic electroluminescence (EL) panel can be used for the display unit107. The display unit 107 may be or may not be detachably attached tothe image capturing apparatus 100. The image capturing apparatus 100only needs to have a function of controlling the display by the displayunit 107.

The communication unit 108 transmits data (such as a control command andimage data) to an external apparatus provided outside the imagecapturing apparatus 100, and receives data from the external apparatus.In the present exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 108wirelessly transmits data to a display control apparatus (a displayapparatus) 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 and wirelessly receives data fromthe display control apparatus 200 (wireless communication). Examples ofthe wireless communication include wireless communication in conformitywith a standard such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) or Bluetooth. Thecommunication between the image capturing apparatus 100 and the displaycontrol apparatus 200 may be wired communication using a cable such as aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) cable. The communication between the imagecapturing apparatus 100 and the display control apparatus 200 may becommunication via a network such as the Internet and a server, or may becommunication without the intervention of these.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of thedisplay control apparatus 200. The display control apparatus 200 has acontrol unit 201, a first storage unit 202, a second storage unit 203, astorage unit 204, an operation unit 205, a display unit 206, and acommunication unit 207.

The control unit 201, which may include one or more processors, one ormore memories, circuitry, or a combination thereof, may control variouskinds of processing by the display control apparatus 200. For example, aCPU can be used for the control unit 201. One piece of hardware may beused or a plurality of pieces of hardware may be used for the controlunit 201. The processing by the display control apparatus 200 may becontrolled based on the shared execution of the processing by theplurality of pieces of hardware.

The first storage unit 202 is a storage unit that temporarily storesvarious kinds of data, and is used for processing (work) by the controlunit 201. For example, a volatile memory (such as a RAM) can be used forthe first storage unit 202.

The second storage unit 203 is a storage unit that non-temporarilystores various kinds of data. The second storage unit 203 stores, forexample, various kinds of program (including firmware) to be used by thedisplay control apparatus 200 (such as the control unit 201), andvarious kinds of setting information. For example, a nonvolatile memory(such as a ROM) can be used for the second storage unit 203.

The storage unit 204 is a storage unit that non-temporarily storesvarious kinds of data. The storage unit 204 stores, for example, datareceived from the image capturing apparatus 100 (the communication unit108). For example, a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, an opticaldisc, a magnetic card, an optical card, or an IC card can be used forthe storage unit 204. The storage unit 204 may be or may not bedetachably attached to the display control apparatus 200. The displaycontrol apparatus 200 only needs to have a function of reading data fromand writing data into the storage unit 204 and deleting data stored inthe storage unit 204 by accessing the storage unit 204.

The operation unit 205 receives a user operation for the display controlapparatus 200. The operation unit 205 outputs an operation signal basedon the user operation to the control unit 201. The control unit 201performs processing based on the operation signal. For example, an inputdevice such as a physical button, a pointing device, or a keyboard canbe used for the operation unit 205. The operation unit 205 may be or maynot be detachably attached to the display control apparatus 200. Thedisplay control apparatus 200 only needs to have a function of receivingan electrical signal based on a user operation performed using the inputdevice.

The display unit 206 displays various images. The display unit 206displays, for example, data received from the image capturing apparatus100, and a graphic image for an interactive operation. For example, aliquid crystal panel and a backlight module, or an organic EL panel canbe used for the display unit 206. The display unit 206 may be or may notbe detachably attached to the display control apparatus 200. The displaycontrol apparatus 200 only needs to have a function of controlling thedisplay by the display unit 206.

The communication unit 207 transmits data (such as a control command andimage data) to an external apparatus provided outside the displaycontrol apparatus 200, and receives data from the external apparatus. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the communication unit 207 wirelesslytransmits data to the image capturing apparatus 100 (the communicationunit 108) and wirelessly receives data from the image capturingapparatus 100.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow inthe image capturing apparatus 100. The processing flow in FIG. 3 starts,for example, in response to a user operation for providing aninstruction for transmission or display of a substitute JPEG image. Theprocessing flow in FIG. 3 may be performed such that a substitute JPEGimage corresponding to a RAW image generated by image capturing isoutput from the image capturing apparatus 100 to the display controlapparatus 200 based on this image capturing.

In step S301, the control unit 101 determines a partial area that is anarea forming a part of the RAW image that is a processing target (atarget RAW image). In the present exemplary embodiment, the control unit101 determines four partial areas in two rows and two columns that formthe entire area of the target RAW image. Any number, layout, and shapeof the plurality of partial areas forming the entire area of the targetRAW image may be employed. The entire area of the target RAW image maynot be formed by the plurality of partial areas. A plurality of partialareas away from each other may be determined.

In step S302, for each of the partial areas, the control unit 101generates (acquires) a RAW histogram of the partial area (a histogram ofgradation values of the target RAW image) from the target RAW image.

In step S303, the control unit 101 controls the communication unit 108to transmit (output) the following data (information) to outside. Thecommunication unit 108 thereby transmits the following data to thedisplay control apparatus 200 (the communication unit 207).

Substitute JPEG image (substitute JPEG image data) for target RAW image

Area information about each partial area

Each RAW histogram (RAW histogram data) generated in step S302

The substitute JPEG image to be transmitted in step S303 is, forexample, a JPEG image that is stored in a RAW file together with thetarget RAW image. The substitute JPEG image may be a JPEG image obtainedby converting the target RAW image at the timing of the transmissionthereof. The substitute JPEG image may not be a JPEG image obtained byconverting the target RAW image. The substitute JPEG image may be a JPEGimage generated by other image capturing performed at substantially thesame timing as the timing of the capturing of the target RAW image(“substantially” including “perfectly”). The data size (informationamount) of the substitute JPEG image is smaller than the data size ofthe target RAW image.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow inthe display control apparatus 200. The processing flow in FIG. 4 isperformed after step S303 in FIG. 3.

In step S401, the control unit 201 detects reception (acquisition) ofdata by the communication unit 207. This data is the data (thesubstitute JPEG image, each of the RAW histograms, and the areainformation) transmitted from the image capturing apparatus 100 in stepS303.

In step S402, the control unit 201 performs control for displaying thesubstitute JPEG image at the display unit 206 such that a plurality ofcorrespondence areas corresponding to the respective plurality ofpartial areas is distinguishable, based on the substitute JPEG image andthe area information received in step S401. The correspondence area isan area forming a part of the substitute JPEG image. The areainformation may be information indicating the partial area, orinformation indicating the correspondence area. The area information maybe any kind of information if the correspondence area and the partialarea corresponding to the correspondence area can be determined usingthe area information.

For example, a screen illustrated in FIG. 5 is displayed at the displayunit 206 by the process in step S402. Any method may be employed to makethe correspondence areas distinguishable. In FIG. 5, four correspondenceareas 501 to 504 corresponding to the respective four partial areas canbe distinguished by a broken line 505 on a substitute JPEG image 500.The broken line 505 can also be “the boundary of each of fourcorrespondence areas 501 to 504”. A person 506 that is a main object anda cloud 507 that is a part of a background appear in the substitute JPEGimage 500. Here, assume that whiteout is occurring in a part of thecloud 507.

In step S403, the control unit 201 determines whether the correspondencearea is designated by a user. A user operation for designating thecorrespondence area can be performed, for example, using the operationunit 205. If the control unit 201 determines that the correspondencearea is designated (YES in step S403) after having waited for thedesignation of the correspondence area, the processing proceeds to stepS404.

In step S404, the control unit 201 performs control for displaying theRAW histogram of the correspondence area designated in step S403(specifically, the RAW histogram of the partial area corresponding tothe designated correspondence area), at the display unit 206.

For example, a screen illustrated in FIG. 6 is displayed at the displayunit 206 by the process in step S404. The screen illustrated in FIG. 6includes an R-histogram 601 corresponding to red, a G-histogram 602corresponding to green, and a B-histogram 603 corresponding to blue. Thehorizontal axis of the R-histogram 601 indicates gradation valuescorresponding to red, the horizontal axis of the G-histogram 602indicates gradation values corresponding to green, and the horizontalaxis of the B-histogram 603 indicates gradation values corresponding toblue. The vertical axis of each of the R-histogram 601, the G-histogram602, and the B-histogram 603 indicates a frequency (the number of pixelshaving the corresponding gradation value).

The user can recognize the gradation of the target RAW image in thepartial area corresponding to the correspondence area 501 with highaccuracy, by checking the R-histogram 601, the G-histogram 602, and theB-histogram 603. The screen illustrated in FIG. 6 is a screen in a casewhere the correspondence area 501 illustrated in FIG. 5 is designated.In this case, the frequency reaches an upper limit in a gradation rangeof gradation values, in all of the R-histogram 601, the G-histogram 602,and the B-histogram 603. Therefore, the user can determine that thewhiteout occurring in the cloud 507 of the substitute JPEG image 500 isalso present in the RAW image. Similarly, the user can determine whetherthe whiteout or blackout of the person 506 is occurring in the targetRAW image, by designating the target area 504 and checking the RAWhistogram of the designated target area 504.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, notonly the substitute JPEG image but also the RAW histogram can bedisplayed. The user who checks the substitute JPEG image can therebyrecognize the gradation of the RAW image with high accuracy. Inaddition, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the RAWhistogram of the partial area is used. Therefore, in a case where apermissible part in which the whiteout and blackout of the RAW image arepermissible and a non-permissible part in which the whiteout andblackout of the RAW image are not permissible are present, the RAWhistogram of the partial area corresponding to the non-permissible partcan be displayed. As a result, the user can determine whether thewhiteout or blackout of the RAW image is occurring in thenon-permissible part, with high accuracy. Further, according to thepresent exemplary embodiment, the plurality of RAW histogramscorresponding to the respective partial areas can be individuallydisplayed. The user can thereby determine whether the whiteout orblackout of the RAW image is occurring in a plurality of objects,individually. In general, in the display of a JPEG image, a processingload is smaller and processing time is shorter than in the display of aRAW image. According to the present exemplary embodiment, since the JPEGimage is displayed in substitution for the RAW image, a reduction intime before starting image display as well as battery saving can beexpected.

The present disclosure is described in detail above based on theexemplary embodiment, but the present disclosure is not limited to thisspecific exemplary embodiment, and various forms in a range notdeviating from the subject matter of the present disclosure are alsoincluded in the present disclosure.

For example, the first electronic apparatus is not limited to the imagecapturing apparatus. Any type of apparatus can be used as the firstelectronic apparatus as long as the apparatus can read out a capturedimage. For example, an information processing apparatus such as apersonal computer that can read out a captured image from a storagemedium may be used as the first electronic apparatus.

Any method may be employed to determine the partial area. For example,an area of a predetermined size (a predetermined width and apredetermined height) independent of the RAW image may be determined asthe partial area. In this case, as the image size of the RAW imageincreases, more partial areas are determined as the plurality of partialareas forming the entire area of the RAW image. A number of partialareas independent of the RAW image may be predetermined. In this case,as the image size of the RAW image increases, a larger partial area isdetermined as each of the partial areas forming the entire area of theRAW image. An area designated by the user may be determined as thepartial area. The user may designate the size and the number of partialareas.

The control unit 101 may determine the partial area based on the dataformat of the RAW image (the RAW image data). For example, in a casewhere a RAW-image encoding format is a tile format for encoding data foreach of tiles forming the entire area of the RAW image, the control unit101 may determine each of the tiles as the partial area. The tile isthereby encoded to generate the RAW histogram of this tile. Therefore, areduction in processing load (memory saving) can be expected, ascompared with a configuration for generating a RAW histogram by encodingan entire RAW image. Moreover, a reduction in processing time can alsobe expected, because processes such as decoding, generation of the RAWhistogram, and transmission of the RAW histogram can be executed inparallel.

The control unit 101 may determine the partial area, based oninformation from an external apparatus (a smartphone). For example, thisexternal apparatus outputs information about the partial area, inresponse to a user operation performed on the external apparatus.Specifically, a user operation is performed to designate at least anyone of a partial area, the layout (e.g., two rows and two columns, orthree rows and three columns) of a partial area, and the number ofpartial areas. The external apparatus then outputs informationindicating at least any one of the partial area, the layout of thepartial area, and the number of partial areas. The control unit 101determines the partial area, based on the information output from theexternal apparatus. The external apparatus (specifically, such as anapplication to be executed in the external apparatus) may automaticallygenerate information based on a situation as the information about thepartial area, and output the generated information.

The example in which the plurality of RAW histograms corresponding tothe respective partial areas is described, but the exemplary embodimentis not limited to the example. For example, the control unit 201 of thedisplay control apparatus 200 may acquire the RAW histogram for only apart of the plurality of partial areas, in step 5401 in FIG. 4.Specifically, the control unit 201 may acquire the RAW histogram foronly the partial area where the whiteout or blackout are occurring inthe correspondence area. The control unit 201 may acquire the RAWhistogram for only the partial area designated by the user.Specifically, the control unit 201 may perform control to send a requestfor only the RAW histogram of the designated partial area to the imagecapturing apparatus 100. The image capturing apparatus 100 may transmitonly the RAW histogram of the designated partial area to the displaycontrol apparatus 200, in response to the request. This also applies tothe process (step 5302 in FIG. 3) in which the control unit 101 of theimage capturing apparatus 100 acquires the RAW histogram. Only thepartial area with respect to which the RAW histogram is acquired may bedetermined in step 5301 in FIG. 3.

Any method may be employed to determine the partial area where thewhiteout or blackout is occurring in the correspondence area. Forexample, the control unit 201 can detect the partial area where thewhiteout or blackout is occurring in the correspondence area from theplurality of partial areas, based on the substitute JPEG image.Information about the partial area where the whiteout or blackout isoccurring in the correspondence area may be acquired from the outside ofthe display control apparatus 200. Then, the control unit 201 maydetermine the partial area where the whiteout or blackout is occurringin the correspondence area, using the information acquired from theoutside. The control unit 101 of the image capturing apparatus 100 canalso determine the partial area where the whiteout or blackout isoccurring in the correspondence area, by a similar method. Because theRAW image is present within the image capturing apparatus 100, thecontrol unit 101 can detect the partial area where the whiteout orblackout is occurring in the correspondence area from the plurality ofpartial areas, based on the RAW image.

Any color element of the RAW histogram may be employed. For example,colors such as cyan, magenta, and yellow may be used for the colorelement of the RAW histogram. In step S401 in FIG. 4, the control unit201 of the display control apparatus 200 may acquire the plurality ofRAW histograms corresponding to the respective color elements, or mayacquire the RAW histogram for only a part of the plurality of colorelements. For example, the control unit 201 may acquire only one of theR-histogram 601, the G-histogram 602, and the B-histogram 603illustrated in FIG. 6. The control unit 201 may acquire only two of theR-histogram 601, the G-histogram 602, and the B-histogram 603. Thecontrol unit 201 may acquire a histogram for a luminance value (a Yvalue) as the RAW histogram, instead of the histogram for the colorelement. This also applies to the process (step S302 in FIG. 3) in whichthe control unit 101 of the image capturing apparatus 100 acquires theRAW histogram.

The image capturing apparatus 100 and the display control apparatus 200may be integrated. In this case, for example, the processes in step S402to step 404 in FIG. 4 are performed after the processes in step S301 andstep 302 in FIG. 3 are performed (the processes in step S303 and stepS401 is omitted). In addition, in this configuration, the user canrecognize the gradation of the RAW image with high accuracy, by checkingthe displayed RAW histogram.

The units described throughout the present disclosure are exemplaryand/or preferable modules for implementing processes described in thepresent disclosure. The term “unit”, as used herein, may generally referto firmware, software, hardware, or other component, such as circuitryor the like, or any combination thereof, that is used to effectuate apurpose. The modules can be hardware units (such as circuitry, firmware,a field programmable gate array, a digital signal processor, anapplication specific integrated circuit or the like) and/or softwaremodules (such as a computer readable program or the like). The modulesfor implementing the various steps are not described exhaustively above.However, where there is a step of performing a certain process, theremay be a corresponding functional module or unit (implemented byhardware and/or software) for implementing the same process. Technicalsolutions by all combinations of steps described and units correspondingto these steps are included in the present disclosure.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by acomputerized configuration(s) of a system or apparatus that reads outand executes computer executable instructions (e.g., one or moreprograms) recorded on a storage medium (which may also be referred tomore fully as a ‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) toperform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or that includes one or more circuits (e.g.,application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s), and by amethod performed by the computerized configuration(s) of the system orapparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computerexecutable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functionsof one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/or controllingthe one or more circuits to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiment(s). The computerized configuration(s) maycomprise one or more processors, one or more memories, circuitry, or acombination thereof (e.g., central processing unit (CPU), microprocessing unit (MPU)), and may include a network of separate computersor separate processors to read out and execute the computer executableinstructions. The computer executable instructions may be provided tothe computer, for example, from a network or the storage medium. Thestorage medium may include, for example, one or more of a hard disk, arandom-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a storage ofdistributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as a compact disc(CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flashmemory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of priority from Japanese PatentApplication No. 2018-037174, filed Mar. 2, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic apparatus comprising: a generationunit configured to divide a first image into a plurality of partialareas, and generate each of histograms for the respective partial areas,the histograms representing a number of pixels of each gradation; anacquisition unit configured to acquire a second image corresponding tothe first image and having a data size smaller than a data size of thefirst image; and an output unit configured to output the second image tooutside, together with area information about the partial area of eachof the histograms, wherein the output unit outputs at least one of thegenerated histograms to the outside.
 2. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 1, further comprising an image capturing unit,wherein the first image is generated through image capturing processingperformed by the image capturing unit.
 3. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the first image is a RAW image, and thesecond image is generated by conversion of the RAW image.
 4. Theelectronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein as the data size ofthe first image increases, a number of divisions for the partial areasincreases.
 5. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thepartial area of the first image is an area obtained by division of thefirst image into a plurality of rows and columns.
 6. An electronicapparatus comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a secondimage corresponding to a first image and having a data size smaller thana data size of the first image, and area information about a pluralityof partial areas forming the first image, from outside; a displaycontrol unit configured to perform control for displaying the secondimage on a screen; and a designation unit configured to designate anyone area of the second image displayed on the screen, wherein thereceiving unit receives a histogram that represents a number of pixelsof each gradation in a partial area of the first image, the partial areacorresponding to the designated area of the second image, and whereinthe display control unit further performs control for displaying thehistogram on the screen.
 7. The electronic apparatus according to claim6, wherein the designation unit designates an area of the first imagewhere whiteout or blackout is occurring.
 8. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the designation unit designates an areabased on an operation performed by a user.
 9. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 6, further comprising a request unit configured tosend a request for the histogram of the partial area of the first imageto the outside, the partial area corresponding to the designated area.10. The electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the receivingunit receives the histogram of each of the partial areas of the firstimage, prior to designation by the designation unit.
 11. The electronicapparatus according to claim 6, wherein the display control unitperforms control for displaying the second image with the partial areabeing distinguishable, based on the area information.
 12. A controlmethod for an electronic apparatus, the control method comprising:dividing a first image into a plurality of partial areas, and generatingeach of histograms for the respective partial areas, the histogramsrepresenting a number of pixels of each gradation; acquiring a secondimage corresponding to the first image and having a data size smallerthan a data size of the first image; outputting the second image tooutside, together with area information about the partial area of eachof the histograms; and outputting at least one of the generatedhistograms to the outside.
 13. A control method for an electronicapparatus, the control method comprising: receiving a second imagecorresponding to a first image and having a data size smaller than adata size of the first image, and area information about a plurality ofpartial areas forming the first image, from outside; performing controlfor displaying the second image on a screen; designating any one area ofthe second image displayed on the screen; receiving a histogram thatrepresents a number of pixels of each gradation in a partial area of thefirst image, the partial area corresponding to the designated area ofthe second image, and performing control for displaying the histogram onthe screen.
 14. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program forcausing a computer to execute a control method for an electronicapparatus, the control method comprising: dividing a first image into aplurality of partial areas, and generating each of histograms for therespective partial areas, the histograms representing a number of pixelsof each gradation; acquiring a second image corresponding to the firstimage and having a data size smaller than a data size of the firstimage; outputting the second image to outside, together with areainformation about the partial area of each of the histograms; andoutputting at least one of the generated histograms to the outside. 15.A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing acomputer to execute a control method for an electronic apparatus, thecontrol method comprising: receiving a second image corresponding to afirst image and having a data size smaller than a data size of the firstimage, and area information about a plurality of partial areas formingthe first image, from outside; performing control for displaying thesecond image on a screen; designating any one area of the second imagedisplayed on the screen; receiving a histogram that represents a numberof pixels of each gradation in a partial area of the first image, thepartial area corresponding to the designated area of the second image,and performing control for displaying the histogram on the screen.